Will it be more difficult to treat the new crown virus and influenza virus jointly "performing crime"?

　　Will it be more difficult to treat the new crown flu?

　　◎Reporter Jin Feng

　　The winter outbreak of influenza virus is approaching, and mankind is once again facing the dual threat of influenza virus and new coronavirus.

　　A few days ago, the "Times of Israel" reported that a pregnant woman in the country was found to be infected with both the new crown and influenza viruses. This is the first case of "co-infection" in Israel.

However, the media specifically pointed out that "some reports claim that this is the world's first case of this type of dual infection, but as early as the spring of 2020, there were reports of co-patients with influenza and new crown in the United States."

　　From a global perspective, this is indeed not the first time that the new crown virus and the flu virus have joined forces to "conduct crimes."

In October 2020, Mexico confirmed the country’s first case of simultaneous infection of the new crown virus and seasonal influenza.

In late February 2020, a man with a severe cough and fever appeared in a New York hospital. His nasal swab tested positive for the flu. Later, he was diagnosed with both the new crown and the flu, and his family members also followed suit. "Success".

　　"The clinical manifestations of new coronavirus infection are similar to those of influenza and viral pneumonia. Many symptoms are similar, such as fever, dry cough, chest tightness, and chest pain. Even if some patients with new coronavirus have smell and taste disorders, the incidence is very low, so patients It is difficult to distinguish whether the infection is the new crown or the flu, or whether it is infected with both viruses at the same time." Pan Chun, chief physician of the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, who was a member of the National Health Commission's expert group during the anti-epidemic period in Wuhan Tell a reporter from Science and Technology Daily.

　　According to Bao Changjun, director of the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Acute Infectious Diseases, it remains to be seen whether co-infection with these two viruses will cause more serious diseases.

"From public reports around the world, there are not many cases of simultaneous infection of the two viruses. Therefore, the combined infection will bring about the risk of diseases in the human body. It is difficult to judge because of the lack of sufficient cases and data support."

　　However, from the current research literature, simultaneous infection of the new coronavirus and influenza virus is not good for the development of the disease.

　　Research institutions such as the Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and the Key Laboratory of Environment and Health of the School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, published a study of 307 patients with new coronary pneumonia in 2020 It was found that patients who were simultaneously infected with the new coronavirus and influenza B virus were at higher risk of adverse outcomes.

　　In February 2021, the research published by Professor Xu Ke and Professor Lan Ke of the State Key Laboratory of Virology of Wuhan University showed that co-infection of the two viruses is like adding fuel to the fire, and influenza viruses can significantly promote new coronavirus infections.

The research team built a mouse model of influenza virus and new coronavirus co-infection and found that co-infection of the two viruses caused more serious diseases in mice.

In the new coronavirus recipient human ACE2 transgenic mice, co-infection with the new coronavirus will cause more severe lung pathological damage and higher new coronavirus load.

　　"If the two viruses are co-infected, it may be more difficult to treat. On the one hand, because the influenza virus and the new coronavirus target organs are mainly the respiratory system, once they are co-infected, the damage to the respiratory system may be more serious. On the other hand, On the one hand, the damage to the respiratory system also depends on the viral load. The higher the viral load, the more severe the lung damage." Pan Chun said.

　　Winter and spring each year are the seasons for the high incidence of influenza. Recently, my country's Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Henan and other places have successively rebounded from the new crown epidemic. Faced with double risks, how should we protect ourselves and our family from being recruited?

　　"Vaccination is an effective way to prevent influenza and new crowns, especially the whole course of vaccinations. At the same time, pay attention to hand hygiene, more ventilation in the room, as little as possible to gather in crowded places, and pay attention to wearing masks when traveling." Bao Changjun said.

　　He also pointed out that the immunity of the elderly and special populations is low, and the risk of infection with influenza and new coronavirus is also relatively high, and vaccination will reduce the incidence of severe illness.

　　"If you have fever, cough, and other symptoms, you can first check whether you have a recent history of potential exposure to the new coronavirus, such as whether you have been in contact with people who have recently entered the country, whether you have come into contact with imported frozen foods and items." Bao Changjun reminded.

　　"Even if there are no symptoms, if you have recently traveled to areas with a high risk of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with patients with COVID-19, don't take it lightly. You need to go to the nearest institution for nucleic acid testing immediately." Pan Chun suggested.